Reconstruction begins on Mirabad Street in Tashkent: terraces, barrier-free environment, and sidewalk expansion

What is planned on Mirabad Street

In Tashkent, reconstruction of part of Mirabad Street adjacent to the Mirabad (Hospital) Market has begun. On Friday, district governor Anvar Sayfutdinov presented the project to residents during a public hearing, Gazeta reports. At the initial stage, changes will affect the area near the nine-story residential building No. 39A, where business and catering facilities are located on the ground floor.

Terraces and benefits for business

Previously, illegally attached terraces were removed here. Now, based on public-private partnership and in accordance with the city's design code, new terraces will be built, which businesses can use to expand their activities. The terrace roofs will be made of noise-absorbing material so that residents do not experience discomfort during rain. 'Conditions for business mean new jobs, new tax revenues for the budget, and consequently additional funds for the mahalla to spend on its needs,' said Anvar Sayfutdinov.

Barrier-free environment and urban improvement

A barrier-free environment will be created on the street, and the sidewalk will be widened by moving the bike lane onto the roadway—this will narrow and organize the space for cars, which was expanded after the tram line was removed. The green zone between the sidewalk and the roadway will have a unified appearance: additional trees and shrubs (not flowers requiring constant care, noted the governor) will be planted there, along with tables, benches, trash bins, lighting, cameras, and 'panic buttons'.

Example of Uzbekiston ovozi and further stages

The governor repeatedly referred to the experience of the reconstructed Uzbekiston ovozi Street, where the sidewalk is at one level, crossings are raised, and the roadway is narrowed. 'It used to be believed that widening a street would reduce traffic jams, but look at Uzbekiston ovozi Street—there is only one lane, yet traffic does not stop because intersections, including a roundabout at one of them, are properly designed,' he said. According to him, on all recently reconstructed streets in Tashkent, the number of visitors, including tourists, entrepreneurs' incomes, and real estate values are increasing; examples include Taras Shevchenko Street and Uzbekiston ovozi Street. After completing the first phase, reconstruction should cover other sections of the street toward the roundabout near the Grand Mir Hotel. In response to a question about the area in front of the Mirabad Avenue residential complex, where the sidewalk is combined with parking, Sayfutdinov gave a positive answer—improvements for pedestrians are expected there.